The following comments were made by Pastor Jeff at the beginning of both worship services on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
As we join together in worship this morning, we are joined with all people everywhere who call on the name of Jesus. Especially, this morning, we are closely joined with our sisters and brothers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in Charleston, SC.
As you probably have heard or read, Dylann Roof, a 21-year old man, went to this church, sat with their people and had a Bible study with them. He was with them for about an hour before he stood up and said he was there “to shoot black people.” And he opened fire killing 9 people.
This touches us on so many levels – including the fact that Mr. Roof is a member of an ELCA Lutheran church in Columbia, SC. Two of his victims were graduates of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia.
At the Synod Assembly yesterday, we voted to declare today a day of “mourning, prayer, contrition, repentance, and contemplation concerning the events in Charleston on June 17th, and other evil and violence perpetrated due to racism – in particular, by white Christians.” [see full text of resolution]
The politicians will grab hold of this situation and wrangle about stricter gun regulations, mental illness, and racism.
Other concerned people will gather in living rooms and churches to talk about causes and solutions.
Still others will likely not give this situation another thought – perhaps numbed by the senselessness or even the frequency of these kinds of events.
I’m not addressing you today about politics – about left vs right, liberal vs conservative, Democrat vs Republican, or about stricter gun control. I’m addressing this as a spiritual concern.
The reality is that we are made poignantly aware of the presence of evil among us. The sense of this resolution is to not simply blame guns or Dylann’s parents or to throw this into the political arena to leave it up to our politicians to figure this out, but to look at the cultural and communal climate that allows such events to take place.
Race definitely played a huge part in this tragedy. A challenge for those of us who are white is to hear the words racism and white privilege and not start to become defensive or start giving examples of friends we have who are not white. Perhaps it’s helpful to make a distinction between the words racist and racism. Racist as a person actively promoting their own race at the expense of another believing that their race is superior, and racism is a systemic issue. Over the last 15 years or so, I have had numerous conversations with people who have helped me see just what doors are opened to me simply because I am a white man. What if I stood before you today as a black man, a black woman, a Latina?
As people of faith, we can’t enter the darkness of these events without also claiming the light of Christ … the light that no darkness can overcome (John 1). We are already hearing words of strength, grace, and forgiveness. These speak to the strength of people of faith through Jesus Christ.
NOTE: During the Sunday School hour, both adult classes discussed these events with concern, love and honesty. People have many views on these issues and their causes. As you talk with people throughout your day, be sure to listen at least as much as you speak. If we remain entrenched in our own perspectives, how can meaningful change occur?
Resources
- Washington Post article “The powerful words of forgiveness delivered to Dylann Roof by victims’ relatives“
- Sermon at Bethel (8:00a)
- Metropolitan Washington DC Synod Assembly Resolution “Racism and the Events in Charleston“
- Action items suggested by Pr Leila Ortiz in a workshop discussion at the Synod Assembly:
- Action item No.1 from racism workshop: Engage difference intentionally. Get to know people who are not like you.
- Action item No.2 from racism workshop: Pulpit exchange. Allow our congregations to hear the gospel from another voice.
- Action item No.3 from racism workshop: Youth exchange. Youth get to see and engage with people they usually don’t.
- Action item No.4 from racism workshop: Be courageous, be bold and intentional about how we preach, teach and confess.
Epicurious Lutheran 